SUSTAINABILITY

Waste Not, Want Not

Use what you have until it falls apart. The Goodwill or Salvation Army are treasure troves, why buy anything new when you can get it for half the price and help save the environment? Gently worn pieces also have a beautiful patina which makes them personal and special. Invest in glass or ceramic dishes. Plastic, when heated up, leaks toxins into foods and liquids, so if at all possible, leave it out. Thrift stores have shelves of old glass jars. A simple scrub, and they’re ready to be refilled. Old toothbrushes are perfect for cleaning, especially in between tiles in the bathroom.

Recycle

Recycling reduces what goes to landfill, but it's not a long-term solution. The unfortunate truth: recycling facilities are very specific about what they accept. Only 8% of plastics are recycled in the U.S., so the best solution is to eliminate plastics, and thereby the need to recycle. Glass and metal are indefinitely recyclable, so they can be used repeatedly without a loss of quality. Plastic can be recycled once before it breaks apart.

Buy Vintage

Shopping for new clothing creates an automatic consumer demand: another piece of clothing quickly replaces the one you just bought. Support sustainable and ethical businesses that focus on the environment. Vintage clothes are often made with more quality fabrics, stitched well, so they last longer, and cheaper than new clothing. You’ll also have an individual look that can’t be duplicated.

Hang Dry Your Laundry

Hang drying cuts down the electricity bill, saves energy, and lengthens the life of your clothes. Drying your clothes causes irreparable damage: shrinkage, color fade, and tears the material. Drying your clothes causes twice as much shrinkage as washing. Tumble dryers cause microscopic tears in the fabric, which is what's in the lint tray. Line drying clothes helps them to last longer.

Go Plant-based

A vegan diet literally saves the environment. Animal agriculture surpasses transportation emissions as the leading cause of global warming and climate change. A conscious diet singlehandedly supports the planet for future generations, our children. Start slow, with a vegetarian diet to see how much easy it truly is. There are vegan options in larger supermarkets, at your local helath food store. and vegan options at restaurants now more than ever.

Shopping in Bulk

Ever looked at how much plastic packaging is in your recycle bin? Buying in bulk drastically cuts down on food packaging. Packaging accounts for 8% of the total cost of food. Bulk shopping cuts down on all of the wasteful packaging, without worrying whether your packaging is recyclable, or what landfill it's going to. Use Mason jars, reusable pouches, cloth bags, any used containers for conscious storage and shopping.

Compost

72 billion pounds of food is wasted each year in the U.S. alone. When food goes to landfill it's not given enough oxygen to decompose properly, which produces harmful greenhouse gases (methane) and contributes to global warming. Landfills are composed of sealed plastic enclosures in the ground. No soil means no proper decomposition. Composting keeps food waste out of landfills and circles back to feed the earth, where it belongs. Your plants and veggies will love you for it.

Plastic Free

Make a conscious choice sure to buy products packaged in glass or recyclable paper. There are so many options these days: food items, supplements, and makeup. Glass is 100% recyclable, indefinitely. Plastic is usually only be recycled once. Cardboard can be composted, and tin/metal is recycle, or reuse the container.

Take Shorter Showers

A typical 5 minute shower is close to 20 gallons of water. With global warming, fresh water is a natural resource to protect as we face the consequences of Global Warming and water pollution. Almost 45% of the global population currently doesn't have access to clean water or sanitation. Only 2% of the earth's water is fresh (not salted). A novel idea: wash your hair every two days, which will make your hair less dry, healthier, and saved on your water bill.

Use Public Transport, Walk, or Bike.

The transportation has a negative impact of Co2 emissions and global warming, and contribute to water and air pollution, which causes illness and environmental damage. If possible, push bike, electric bike, skateboard, or walk. If possible, choose public transportation instead of driving yourself (less stressful) to reduce your carbon footprint, and save money. If money isn't an issue, consider purchasing an electic car, push or Ebike. Electric vehicles are becoming cheaper and more accessible.